more than Camelot
(31 December)
I tend to think
at
this moment
the long moment of the final day
of
Tennyson
(yes
Tennyson)
who has the last of Camelot
fallen
surrendered by Excalibur
the end of the year
with
the last
knight on the last steed
without a castle
or
a realm
riding into what is timed as the first day
of the new year
meaning
a new age
perforce
Tennyson’s own age
perhaps
our own
modern age
in which we must live
with machines
ending relationships
empire without nobility
but
greed to drive itself
and we are left
without
romance except nostalgia
of a time
we cannot know
and
so
happy new year
and that’s
all
and isn’t all
we are driven by sensation
cast in ego and in
vanity
it’s true
but
that’s nowhere near
the all that is
since we can do better
choose better
and
that’s it
that’s all if by capacity
somewhat relative
we decide how
we will be
and could we do better than
the phenomenon of resolutions
interesting to voice
and
then inevitable to fail
by
forgetting
and who knows might be forgettable
rather than making calls
for the day
for today
for now
and we could
through better means
re-understand sensation
ego
vanity
as good and even needul things
parts
of us
and choices
too
though except in urgent moments
consider
safe
consider health
consider love
and
yes
in taking such stands
consider what we stand against
the machines of vaingloriousness
that
influence
and keep a bodyguard of lies
enforcing
working inside-out
the cause that cannot last
the hypocrisies
that
will be exposed as crimes
or simple folly
to have followed
we can do better
should
do better
consider what is small
free
to do
say
in deciding love
then go from there
into the year
c l couch
(started with Idylls of the King by Alfred, Lord Tennyson)
photo by Godz1 on Unsplash
so this becomes a song
so this is new year’s
and what have you
hung over?
shall we have
pork and sauerkraut?
a pretzel
or a pickle?
this is new year’s
and what we done?
it’s only been a day
we protest
not even that
but some of you are there
helping others
serving food
an arm around a shoulder
sending vibes of love
because it’s really love
we can do that
now
no waiting
no line
and if a line
(you know air travel,
certain movie tickets)
then
loving in line,
a happy
if not always chortling
new year
C L Couch
(a hangover is referenced, which may not translate well; a hangover is a state of drunkenness, especially in the morning after too much drinking of alcoholic drinks during the night before)
Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash
huevos nuevos
it's next year here and there
already
have a happy
to say
knowing that the challenges
also here and there
are many
deep
and difficult
but find a way
we shall
or can
by saying to ourselves
to this at that
or to someone else
I need your help
a new year
(in solar terms)
try it
love it
have it
clc
(Title—sorry, it’s a silly pun that, once I found and it held on, I or it could not escape. Happy New Eggs, everyone!)
(x = space)
x
x
commencement
x
the end of someone’s year
not the Jewish
or the Lunar
or the Islamic
the Christian year
began a month ago
there are those who only live by
seasons and experiences
maybe it’s Gregory’s
or the atomic clock’s
maybe it belongs
to Greenwich or to Zulu
the world says
it belongs to us
we celebrate
we cast lights off our bridges
launch them from our islands
we drop or raise
all sorts of things
to say
this is ours
we’ve grown
the new is ours
x
C L Couch
x
x
End of 2018
Photo by Andreas Dress on Unsplash
x
clcouch123 
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